McPhail joined the Conference Carolinas office in 2024 after an illustrious 26 years on the campus of conference member Lees-McRae College. McPhail served as Vice President of Athletics and Club Sports at Lees-McRae until May of 2024. McPhail originally joined the Lees-McRae athletics department as the men’s and women’s cross country coach and Sports Information Director in July of 1998.
“We are thrilled that Craig is joining us at the Conference Carolinas league office,” Colvin said. “When I first arrived as Commissioner five years ago, Craig was instrumental in helping me, along with all of our staff, to become better stewards for the conference. A past Chair of our Directors of Athletics Committee, Craig is highly respected throughout Conference Carolinas and he is the perfect person to fill this position. Craig’s incredible background in Conference Carolinas is going to make him an absolute asset to all of our league members through his new role.”
McPhail will serve as the external relations contact for the conference office while also collaborating daily with Assistant Commissioner for Communications Travis Chell. McPhail will also work with Commissioner Chris Colvin on corporate partnerships for Conference Carolinas.
“I am excited to work with the talented Conference Carolinas staff and to build upon the great work that has been done in external relations over the last five years by former Associate Commissioner Brian Hand,” McPhail said. “I truly appreciate having the unique opportunity to join Commissioner Colvin on the league staff along with his original staff members Kit Alewine and Jill Robbins. Having the opportunity to work with Chris, Kit, Jill, Anna and Travis will allow me to continue to grow my skills by working alongside such strong leaders. I am really looking forward to help shape and recognize our wonderful members, coaches, administrators and student-athletes that make up Conference Carolinas in the years to come.”
McPhail departed Lees-McRae as the Vice President of Athletics and Club Sports for the last 14 academic years having overseen 27 varsity sports and the club sports of rock climbing, ski and snowboard, dance and esports. The Lees-McRae athletics department currently features 350 student-athletes and a full-time staff of 40 employees.
McPhail was voted by his peers as Conference Carolinas’ official nominee for the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) AD of the Year Award for the 2020-21 academic year.
During his time in charge of the athletics department, McPhail operated the Bobcat Club, which is the fundraising arm of the athletic department. He helped engineer a 300 percent increase in annual dollars at $200,000 while increasing Bobcat Club members 900 percent from 60 members to 600. McPhail also helmed LMCBobcats.com and all of Lees-McRae’s social media avenues during his time in charge of the athletics department.
McPhail was instrumental in the creation of a new athletics logo and a total rebrand for Lees-McRae athletics in 2017.
Facility enhancements championed by McPhail can be seen throughout the Lees-McRae Fred I. Dickerson Athletic Complex. Tate Field received a press box and a new turf field for soccer and lacrosse, the basketball and volleyball court in Williams Gymnasium was replaced thanks to a gift from McNair and Debi Tornow, turf was installed at the softball field, the indoor and outdoor tennis courts were renovated, and the weight room, tennis pavilion and Rhea-Lyons Indoor Swimming Pool have all seen upgrades. The Haigler Athletic Center was also acquired to provide locker rooms for lacrosse and softball and provide space to meet both outside and inside. McPhail also commissioned The Bobcat Walk leading into the Williams Physical Education Center as a fundraiser for the Athletic Department. The walk features over 300 bricks commemorating memories from Bobcat alumni and supporters.
Lees-McRae captured conference championships in multiple sports during his time in charge of the athletics department while also having 21 consecutive semesters of over a 3.0 grade-point average for its student-athletes. Lees-McRae earned the NCAA Division II Award of Excellence for its efforts in the community in 2017, 2020 and 2024.
McPhail was also instrumental in garnering sponsorships for Lees-McRae in numerous ways, including the Bobcat Sports Network that is part of the overall Conference Carolinas Digital Network.
Lees-McRae was the standard in Conference Carolinas cross country during McPhail’s time in charge of the program. Lees-McRae won the women’s cross country conference title eight times between 1998 and 2008. An eight-time recipient of the Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year award in women’s cross country, McPhail also earned the honor three times in men’s cross country. The men’s cross country program at Lees-McRae won four conference titles during the same timeframe.
McPhail also led the Lees-McRae women’s cross country program to an impressive three NCAA Division II Southeast Region titles in 2001, 2007 and 2008. In total, McPhail coached 72 all-conference runners, five conference champions and six Freshmen of the Year. He also coached 31 NCAA Division II All-Southeast runners.
McPhail served as the Chair of the NCAA Division II Cross Country/Track & Field Committee from 2005-2007.
In August of 2001, McPhail also restarted the track and field program at Lees-McRae and coached the first NCAA Division II All-American for the program.
McPhail was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director at Lees-McRae in August of 2003. He held this role until being promoted to Director of Athletics in 2009. During his time as Assistant AD, McPhail continued his role with the cross country and track programs while also still fulfilling the role of Sports Information Director. McPhail was in charge of the day-to-day operations of multiple varsity sports during this timeframe in addition to his efforts with the marketing and communications efforts of the athletics department.
A four-year letterwinner in cross country at Winthrop, McPhail graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication in August of 1993. He earned his Masters of Science in Sport Management from Georgia Southern in December of 1995.